§ 10. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the recent vote of the cinema exhibitors in favour of the abolition of the practice known as blind booking of cinema films, which was one of the questions on which he desired the opinion of this important section of the industry; and whether he is now prepared to propose legislation to prohibit this particular practice in future in the interests of the British cinema film industry?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given by the Secretary to the 214 Department of Overseas Trade to the hon. Member for Acton yesterday, a copy of which I am sending him.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYCan the hon. Member say when he expects to be in a position to make a statement of the Government's intentions?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERWhen I get a definite report from the three sections of this industry. I am most anxious to get that. The referendum to which the hon. and gallant Member refers has, I understand, been referred to the other two sections of the trade. That may not necessarily involve legislation. If we can act by agreement, so much the better. I am only too anxious to get on with the job.
§ Sir HARRY BRITTAINThe right hon. Gentleman has given an excellent lead in this matter. Will he encourage these bodies to give him a report at the earliest possible moment?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am trying to give them all the encouragement I can, but one cannot force people to take action which they ought to take themselves.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many of these cases where a large majority of the industry are in favour of certain action, legislation is nearly always necessary for a small minority who are recalcitrant?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe difficulty is that there is nothing like agreement even among the large majority. I should like hon. Members in all quarters of the House to try to get agreement among the different sections. If any hon Member can give help in that way it will be welcome.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are still in this House and in the country people who are in favour of Free Trade and of seeing the best pictures?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am not sure that the two things necessarily go together. I should like the right hon. and gallant Member to assist in this matter.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINIs it certain that the pictures which are sent into this country are the best pictures?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMuch better than English pictures